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Every spring, North Americans gear up their grill, stock up on the meat, and prepare for many mouth-watering barbecues. But how much do we really know about the art of barbecuing? From the familiar pastime's origins to surprising tips and tactics, this list will provide you with all the information you need to wow your friends at the next neighborhood barbecue!

Barbecues originated in pig-pickings, feasts that were common in the Southern United States prior to the Civil War. Whole pigs were cooked and eaten by the crowd.

Smoking was used as far as 6000 years ago in order to make meats safe to eat and store. The meat was exposed to smoke and low heat in order to prevent bacteria and enzymes from growing.

In Australia, a barbecue is commonly referred to as a barbie. The famous statement Ill slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you, which appeared in Australian tourism advertisements, is often used to refer to the country.

What most North Americans partake in today isn't actually barbecuing. Barbecuing is cooking at temperatures around the boiling point of water (180-220*F) for a longer time period, in order to make the meat tender while preserving its natural juices. Today, the method most commonly used is, in fact, broiling: cooking at 475-700*F in much less time.

According to the Barbecue Industry Association, half of all marshmallows eaten in the U.S. have been toasted over a grill.

For an easy way to check how much propane you have left, bring your bathroom scale outside and weigh the gas tank.

The origin of the word barbecue is unclear. Some believe it came from the American-Indian word barbacoa for a wood on which foods were cooked. Others say it came from the French words de barbe queue, meaning whiskers to tail.

To add a smokey flavor to your gas-grill-cooked foods or foods cooked inside the house, use liquid smoke. A condensation of actual smoke, this product can be easily added to your barbecue marinade or sauce.

9) Brisket, the extremely hard cut of meat taken from a cow's chest, takes one to two hours per pound to barbecue. That's an average 12 hours on the grill for a basic 8-pound piece!
10) Kansas City, Missouri, Texas, and Lexington, North Carolina, all claim to be the barbecue capitals of the world. Memphis, meanwhile, stakes a claim to being the pork barbecue capital.
Now you're set to impress!

All of us at Affordable Insurance Solutions thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Happy BBQ'ing!

Most of us are at home, hoping the COVID-19 pandemic passes as soon as possible. Adjusting to a life of social distancing can be a challenge for many reasons, simply because it might seem like there is not much to do while sitting at home. We came up with a few ideas to help you manage your time.

Set a schedule for your kids that might include times for reading, school work, exercise, and game time.

Schedule a family happy hour each evening before dinner. Use it as a time to talk about what is going on and share fun family traditions.

Teach your kids to cook.

Have a family movie night with popcorn.

Set up an exercise routine. Run up and down the stairs.

Organize that room you have meant to over the last year.

If the weather is pleasant, playing outside is a terrific option when you need to get out of the house.

Take time each day to share something you are thankful for or are hopeful for. It can be difficult to deal with all the news right now. Why not share something positive, like a video of people showing solidarity during this pandemic or a good news story that you found online?

Learn from our YouTube tutorials.

Take care of your physical health. Get a good amount of sleep and exercise, and use other ways to reduce anxiety, such as meditation, yoga, listening to music.

Get out all those old-fashioned board games. Watch TV together or share an electronic game or two. This would also be a great time to watch old family videos. Connecting with happier times is always good for our mental health.

Limit the news. For your own mental health and the mental health of your children, titrate the intake of news.

Connect with old friends or family members.

Start a garden. Garden centers are open, and you can get vegetables to plant.

Clean out your garage and get your stuff ready for a garage sale.

Camp in the back yard.

Make a family COVIS-19 bracelet.

Listen to a podcast, To say that podcasts are having a moment is a massive understatement. Whether it's to have a serious LOL or be inspired in your career, there's never been a better time to plug into some juicy conversations.

Learn a craft. Ever wanted to knit, crochet, or learn how to do woodworking? YouTube will keep you busy with plenty of videos to choose from.

Please check our website for any updates on changes regarding our operational procedures during this pandemic.
All of us at Affordable Insurance Solutions encorage you to be safe, and be strong.

Now that the weather is changing throughout much of the country, many of us are heading outside to have some fun or start the home improvement projects that we have been planning for all winter. But before the outdoor fun begins, please remember to do it safely. Every year, more than 60,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for lawn-mower injuries. In 2016, there were 6,100 reported home fires involving gas or charcoal grills leading to $29.1 million in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Be Safe While Having Fun

If you are planning on having some fun this spring, remember these safety tips:

If you are going on a bike ride, be sure to wear a helmet. Verify that the helmet sits level on top of the head–not rocking in any direction–and always fasten the safety strap.

When using a barbecue grill, always be sure to leave sufficient space between the grill and your home’s siding and eaves.

Keep children and pets far away from the grill.

With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection is tight and check hoses carefully for leaks.

If you own a pool, install a pool alarm to detect accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. Always have an adult in the area when children are using the pool. Limit use of alcohol when enjoying your pool.

It would be a good idea to test all play structures, including tree houses. Check play structures for sharp screws, bolts, or nails. Make sure the swing set is on a level area and the legs are properly anchored.

Do not leave tools or sharp objects in the back yard.

Be Safe While Completing Work Projects

Spring is a good time to complete an inspection of all motorized equipment to make sure they are in good working order.

Always wear shoes and long pants when using gardening power tools to protect your legs and feet from flying rocks and debris.

Never start your projects when you are tired. Fatigue can cause severe injuries with accidental slippage while using a dangerous power tool.

If you are digging around your yard, confirm that there are no electrical or gas lines in the area.

Remember that your body may not be used to heat, so if it is hot be careful not to get heat stroke. Hydrate yourself on a regular basis.

All of us at Affordable Insurance Solutions appreciate your continued business and referrals. Please don't hesitate to call or email us for any reason. We would love to hear from you!​

It is that time of year when many of us give that special person in our lives a gift that they will enjoy year round. Valentine’s gifts typically include watches, jewelry, art, cameras and other valuable items.

Whatever you may do this year, if you purchase an expensive item for that special person, make sure you get it insured. Most homeowners or renters insurance policies restrict coverage for items like jewelry to $1,000 dollars. In addition, most policies cover named perils for fire and theft, etc.; however, they may exclude coverage for the ring that gets flushed down the toilet; that is unless the expensive item is scheduled. To cover such circumstances that the insurance industry has dubbed “mysterious disappearance”, you will need a valuable articles personal property endorsement on your homeowners or renters policy.

Tips to keep valuables safe

Have your jewelry appraised by a qualified jewelry appraiser for insurance replacement purposes

Take pictures

Keep items in safe place

Take off while working outside

Our homeowners and renters insurance can provide many benefits including:

Additional Living Expense -This coverage pays for the extra, above normal costs of expenses such as food and lodging incurred while the policyholder’s home is being repaired.

Extended Replacement Cost - Provides additional coverage up to 150% of the dwelling’s policy limits to rebuild your home in the event you suffer a covered loss.

Personal Liability Protection- Pays for bodily injury or property damage caused to others as a result of a covered incident.

Identity Theft Protection - Pays for expenses you incur as a result of criminal identity theft.

Affordable Insurance Solutions can provide you with he right combination of coverage, and price, followed up with outstanding service. Call us today at 541-485-8437.

Winter is often the most sickly time of the year with folks suffering from colds, coughs, sniffles, achy joints and cold sores. There are many reasons blamed: confinement with others, cold weather, depression, stress, weak immune system or lack of exercise. Depending on whom you ask, all of them can be a part of the problem.

Here are some guidelines for winter wellness.

Eat healthy and don’t over indulge. A healthy diet will keep your gut microbiome in order, preventing harmful bacteria from taking over. Consuming lactic acid consuming bacteria naturally found in raw food like fruits and vegetables support gut and respiratory health. Consumption of traditional comfort foods high in glucose causes oxidative stress in the blood and compromises your immune defenses. Eat plenty of leafy greens, beans and citrus. [1] In addition, including your own sprouts of alfalfa, broccoli, lentil and red clover in your daily diet are extremely beneficial. Don’t forget garlic, “nature’s penicillin,” which has been used to fight infections for thousands of years. [2]

Get more sunshine. It’s easy to stay inside during winter. Get outside often, dressing appropriately, it will make you feel better, stimulate your metabolism (your body burns more calories keeping warm), and enhance your absorption of vitamin D. Remember to be careful about excessive exercise. It can be bad for your heart. Use a small shovel, and move small amounts of snow at a time. Take any chest pain seriously and seek medical help immediately. [3]

Manage your stress level. Winter activities and obligations can get overwhelming. Spend sometime alone in meditation. It will help you refocus and be more mindful of your blessings. [4]

Keep up your fluid intake. Avoid dryness both internally and externally. Apply extra lotion, moisturizer, turn on that humidifier you cleaned whenprepping your home for winter, and drink lots of water. Include herbs in your water like lemon and mint, use a straw and limit your alcoholic drink consumption. [4]

Practice standard hygiene techniques. Cover your cough with your arm, wash your hands, gargle with salt water, and discard used tissues. Limit the length of time you spend closed up with other people. Steer clear of those you hear coughing and hacking.

Consider herbal supplements to stimulate your immune system. Herbs like elderberry extract can be a preventative tonic, [5] oil from peppermint will open sinuses and help some headaches, [6] sage mixed with honey helps sore throats. [7]

Find ways to serve others. When you change the vibrational rate in your body, by focusing on positive gratitude, it creates a dynamic energy and powerful healer. [2]

Get plenty of sleep. Nothing restores the body more than getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Immune cells are most active during the sleep cycle. [1] Good sleep banishes depression, curbs junk food cravings, eliminates extra amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone, and burns calories. [2]

Does a flu shot work for you? Flu symptoms include fever, chills, and body aches. You can catch it by droplet transmissions from up to 6 feet away. If you get sick, stay home don’t spread it around.

Alll of us at Affordable Insurance Solutions wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!